Kokrajhar, Feb. 17: The All Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) has hit upon a novel idea to protest against alleged inaction of Dispur to address the problems faced by Bodo-medium schools.

In areas under the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) as well as in Darrang, Sonitpur, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts, where there are Bodo-medium schools, Absu activists will put up idols of chief minister Tarun Gogoi and education minister Ripun Bora tomorrow.

As if that is not enough, they will also pray before the idols for free books, teachers and better infrastructure for the Bodo-medium schools.

Idols of Gogoi and Bora will be installed in Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang districts under the BTAD. Absu and the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) have been urging the government to lift the ban on the appointment of teachers and provincialisation of Bodo-medium venture schools. It is alleged that 488 lower primary (LP), 312 middle English and 160 high schools (Bodo and Assamese medium) are being run without regular teachers.

The president of the Absu, Rwngwra Narzary, said: “Our repeated appeal to Dispur to solve problems faced by the Bodo-medium schools and students studying there, fell on deaf ears.

“After trying every possible way, we want them to hear our grievances through their idols.”

Most of the Bodo-medium schools suffer because of poor building infrastructure, lack of adequate teachers and delay in publication and supply of textbooks, Narzary said adding that shortage of teachers because of non-fulfilment of posts aggravated the problem.

“There are no replacements for retired teachers for the last few years making it difficult for students to continue their studies.”

Narzary alleged that classes were not being held in Bodo-medium LP schools in Baksa district because of non-availability of teachers.

“The students of Bodo- medium schools are deprived of quality education and other facilities. Two Bodo-medium schools, Podhapar Hangar-khata LP School and Borbhera LP School, in Baksa district that fall under the constituency of BTC executive member in charge of education, Emanual Mushahary, are now lying defunct and there are no teachers,” Narzary said.